Driving mechanism for hair clippers



April 7, 1951 H. E. MELTZER 2,549,221

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR HAIR CLIPPERS Filed Nov. 25, 1946 INVENTOR HENRYE.MELTZER ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 17, 1951 DRIVING MECHANISM FOR HAIRCLIPPERS Henry E. Meltzer, Racine, Wis., assignor to All- OverManufacturing 00., Racine, Wis.

Application November 23, 1946, Serial N 0. 711,929

1 Claim. (01. -210) This invention appertains to electrically operatedclippers, dry shavers and the like and more particularly to an improveddriving mechanism between the motor and the movable blade.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a noveloperating lever actuating the movable blade, whereby not only will asilent drive be had, but whereby wear between the lever and the movableblade can be readily taken care of.

In hair clippers and the like, due to the rapid oscillation of theoperating lever, there is a constant rubbing and wearing action betweenthe movable blade and the operating lever and consequently, in thecourse of time, an objec-' tional play and lost motion takes placebetween the blade or lever.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide a simple andconvenient means for adjusting the active width of the driving end ofsaid lever for effectively taking up any loose play between the leverand the movable blade.

A further object of my invention is to provide a driving lever with alongitudinal slit and means operable in said slit including an adjustingscrew for spreading the lever on each side of the slit for taking up anywear between the blade and lever.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of means forbracing the lever and for holding the screw in an adjusted position andagainst accidental loss.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means for formingthe driving end of the lever from composition material whereby to reduceobjectional noise between the lever and blade.

A still further important object of my invention is to provide a guideplate secured to the movable blade for receiving the driving end of thelever, the guide plate having means for guiding the lever into drivingengagement with the blade and down turned lips embodying oppositelydisposed smooth bearing surfaces against which the lever is adapted tobear,

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novelconstruction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinaftermore specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the forward end of myimproved clipper with the upper half of the case of the clipper removedFigure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View of the clippertaken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the directionof the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed perspective view of the guide platecarried by the movable blade.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating my novel drivinglever, parts of the figure being shown broken away and in section.

Figure 5 is a detail longitudinal sectional view through the drivinglever taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 4 looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail transverse sectional view through thedriving lever taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 5 looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is'a similar sectional view being taken on the line 1-1 ofFigure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figures 6 and 7, but taken on the line 8-8of Figure 5 looking in the direction, of the arrows, illustrating theadjusting screw.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views the letter Cgenerally indicates by improved clipper and the same includes a casingor housing [0 for enclosing the operating mechanism. This casing orhousing l0 can take any preferred form and includes a lower section I Iand an upper removable section I2. The forward end of the housing l0receives, supports and carries in any desired way the cutting assembly I3 and this assembly includes a lower stationary cutting blade or combplate l4 and an upper movable cutting blade l5. The cutting blade 15 ismovable back and forth over the stationary blade by means, which will belater set forth.

The operating mechanism can include an electric motor of any desiredtype, and as illustrated the same may consist of an alternating currentmotor I6 and its armature I1. The construction and type of the motordoes not enter into the present invention and can be of the type foundin many clippers on the market.

As illustrated, the forward end of the armature I! has connectedtherewith the drive lever I8 for the movable blade and the constructionof this drive lever forms an important part of my present invention.

As illustrated, the driving lever I8 can include a relatively thinforwarding projecting plate or arm 19 which is securely fastenedat oneedge to the armature I! for movement therewith.

Fastened on the upper surface of the plate or arm I9 is a relativelythick driving arm 29 which is preferably formed from compositionmaterial, so as to reduce noise incident to its driving the movableblade l5. It is to be noted that the forward end of the arm 20 isenlarged laterally to provide arcuate driving faces 21. The arm isprovided with a centrally disposed longitudinally extending slot or slit22 and this slit opens out through the forward end of the arm andterminates short of the rear end of the arm. As 11- lustrated, the rearend of the arm is also preferably increased in width and is secured tothe plate [9 by rivets 23.

I provide means for spreading the forward end of the arm 20 on each sideof the slot or slit 22 and this means includes a screw 24 which isthreaded into the plate 19. The screw 24 extends through the slit orslot 22 and is provided with a cone head 25. Obviously by turning thescrew down, the cone shaped head functions as a wedge for spreading thearm in opposite directionson each side of the slit. Obviously byadjusting the screw, the desired Width of the forward end of the arm canbe had.

In order to brace the arm 20 I provide a reinforcing plate 26. Thisplate 26 can be of an inverted U shape in cross section and embraces thetop and side portions of the arm zfl. Particular attention is invited tothe fact, however, that the side portions of the reinforcing plate 26terminate materially short of the forward end of the arm 20, so thatspreading of the forward end of the arm is permitted. The front end ofthe plate engages over the top of the adjusting screw 24 and holds theadjusting screw in place against turning. The plate 26 can be heldtightly down on the arm and against .the screw by means of a holdingmachine screw 27. This screw also extends through the slot or slit 22and is threaded into the plate 24.

As is common in blade assemblies, the movable blade I4 is provided witha notch 28 in its rear edge for receiving the driving end of the arm 29and secured to the movable blade I is a guide plate 29. This guide plate29 is likewise provided with a central notch for the driving end of thethe casing 10. In the formation of the notch in 5 the guide plate 29,the side edges thereof in rear of the guide lips 30, in spite ofmachining, are often left with rough surfaces which act in the nature offiles. In accordance with my invention the side edges of the notch,forward of the guide lips 30 are provided with down turned spacedparallel driving tongues 3 I These tongues give a smooth wearing surfaceagainst which the drive end of the arm engages. The plate 29 can beriveted or otherwise fastened to the movable blade l5 and as the blade,in the present instance is operated from an alternating current motorthe blade is preferably supported and centered by resilient arms 32.These arms can be secured to the movable blade I5 by the same rivets forholding the guide plate 29 in position. In operation of the clipper thedriving end of the arm is received within the notch of the movable bladeand the guide plate 29 and if wear occurs between the drive arm and thelips 3|, it is merely necessary to remove the guard and brace plate 26and adjust the screw 24 until the arm again engages the lips with theproper tension.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or thescope of my invention, but what I claim. as new is:

In hair clippers, a lever for operating the movable blade of a clipperblade assembly including an arm having side arcuate driving faces and alongitudinally extending'slot between the driving faces and opening outat the forward'end of the arm, and terminating short of the rear end ofthe arm, means operable in said slot for spreading the forward end ofthe arm and the driving faces away from one another including a screwadjustable into and out of the slot having a cone shaped spreading head,and a reinforcing plate for said arm detachably connected thereto forengaging the head of the screw to hold the same in an adjusted position,and said reinforcing plate having side flanges engaging the oppositesides of the arm in rear of said driving faces. i

HENRY, E. MELTZER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

